Someone tried to take our dog from our locked
and alarmed car in a supermarket parking lot. She escaped and
valiantly searched for her home for a week. I was five minutes
from getting her at the latest sighting. Before I could get there
she was hit and killed by a car. I know my life was blessed greatly
by having Peggy as a companion for 61 months. I feel so helpless
now, not only that she is gone, but that her last week searching
for me was filled with hardship - longing for me and her home,
suffering 12 degree (F) nights, snow and rain. She was the epitome
of unconditional love, and this has taught me a great deal. Please
advise me what will happen to Peggy and will we be reunited eventually?

Dear John D. Stone,

Your sorrow is evident from your message. The Torah
commands many laws of mercy and kindness towards animals to nurture
this virtuous feeling of compassion. For example, you may not
eat a meal before feeding your animal, as this is an act of neglect
and cruelty. The Torah also teaches us to have gratitude towards
animals

However, animals lack a neshamah (a certain
level of soul) so they have no afterlife existence. At death
their ruach (a lower level of soul) expires.

By the great lesson of sincerity which Peggy has
taught you, I think she has fulfilled her purpose of creation,
if only we could apply this virtue in our own lives toward our
fellow humans.